Emil Wilbekin

Emil Wilbekin, born on September 16, 1967, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an American journalist, media executive, stylist, content creator, culture critic, and human rights activist. He has held prominent roles such as editor-in-chief of Vibe and Giant, editor-atlarge at Essence, managing editor of Essence.com, and chief content officer of Afropunk. Wilbekin is also the founder of Native Son Now, an organization focused on empowering and uplifting Black gay men through positive representation and business opportunities. Adopted into a Black family of legal professionals in Cincinnati, Wilbekin's father transitioned from a structural engineer to an attorney, and his mother went from being a sociologist and attorney to a law judge for the State of Ohio Department of Human Services. Raised alongside his older brother Erik in a comfortable environment, Wilbekin attended Hampton University where he served as editor-in-chief of the Hampton Script. He graduated in 1989 with a B.S. in mass media arts before pursuing an M.S. in journalism at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in 1990.

Throughout his career, Wilbekin has received numerous accolades and honors, including the 2016 Black Enterprise Modern Man, 2017 "Master of Style" award by Out magazine and Cadillac, 2018 GLAAD's Ric Weiland Award, and recognition as Fast Company's Most Creative People in 2019. Emil Wilbekin, a prolific journalist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, began his career as a freelance writer for prestigious publications like the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. In 1992, he co-founded Vibe magazine with Quincy Jones, where he served as an editor and played a significant role in the magazine's success, earning accolades such as the National Magazine Award. Throughout his tenure at Vibe, Wilbekin worked to bridge gaps in representation, including featuring stories about the LGBTQ+ community to confront homophobia in the music industry. His impactful contributions led to Vibe winning prestigious awards and him being recognized as a cultural commentator by various media outlets. Wilbekin's career continued to flourish as he held editorial positions at Giant magazine and Essence, where he expanded coverage to include same-gender-loving relationships within the Black community. He left Essence in 2014 to focus on promoting LGBTQ+ representation through his consultancy and branding agency, World of Wilbekin. Additionally, Wilbekin's influence extended beyond journalism as he provided commentary on significant cultural events, engaged in discussions on social issues, and advocated for equality and inclusivity within various industries. His dedication to promoting diversity and empowerment continues to make a lasting impact on marginalized communities and contribute to positive social change.

Native Son Now: In 2015, while on vacation in India, Emil Wilbekin found inspiration to transform his branding agency, World of Wilbekin, into a movement after recognizing the lack of unity among Black gay men for fellowship and celebration. Renamed Native Son Now in homage to James Baldwin's work, the organization was officially launched in 2016, honoring individuals like Don Lemon and DeRay McKesson.

Wilbekin's public disclosure of his HIV status at the inaugural event marked a commitment to destigmatize HIV within the Black community, furthered through partnerships with ViiV Healthcare for awareness initiatives like the immersive theater piece, "As Much As I Can." Continually advocating for Black queer empowerment, Wilbekin collaborated with various entities to challenge toxic masculinity, eliminate HIV stigma, and promote LGBTQ+ representation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate impact on Black communities, Native Son Now partnered with advocacy groups to address issues faced by same-gender-loving Black men, launching innovative projects, hosting virtual gatherings like The Black Gay Leadership Forum, and honoring achievements through events like the Native Son Awards and the release of the Native Son 101 list. Wilbekin's dedication to supporting marginalized communities and fostering inclusivity remains at the forefront of his work, making a significant impact in promoting diversity and empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community.